The end of the Akubra Squatter?

[T Jones]

I've been looking around to buy another Squatter in a different color other than the black one I have, (I don't really care much for black hats...but I do love the Squatter). I really like the Squatter's tall crown and three inch wide brim. I was looking at the Bushman but I don't care much for the ribbon and I'm not sure if it's 3 1/4 brim may be a little too wide. Unfortunately I don't know for sure if the Squatter's going to be discontinued in just the U.S. or if it's going to be discontinued altogether. David Morgan's site says it's a discontinued style, while another site says the Squatter is discontinued in the U.S....My only complaint if it can still be purchased from vendors in Australia are the high shipping costs, like Hats direct for example, or the long wait to get one after buying it, some vendors advertise a 3 month wait. Nevertheless, I was wanting a Moonstone gray Squatter but it looks like that might be out of reach for me for a while....

Akubra Squatter

 

[gtdean48]

Given this description "This hat is generally accepted as the original Australian Akubra", I doubt it'll be discontinued in Oz....

 

[Orangegrad]

I just placed an order for a Squatter with our Katoomba friends. They actually had one of the older non-lined Squatters in my size, which I chose. The Hattery only carries the Squatter in steel gray, which is the color I wanted anyway, so I'm getting exactly the fedora that I want. From the Hattery it comes open crown - not sure how it comes from other vendors, nor the colors available.

In around two weeks or so there will be some photos to show.

 

[ManofKent]

The three month wait is a bit of a pain, but even taking into account shipping charges, they're still well priced compared to a lot of contemporary hats.

I've just placed an order for one in Steel Grey from Everything Australian - the service was excellent on the Campdraft, and their postage charges are lower than much of the competition.

 

[Banky]

I'll agree with whats been said, given the relatively low cost of Akubra hats I have very little issue paying for courier shipping from Hats direct. It also reduces the time in transit so as to reduce risk of damaging the hat when it's in the postal service's care. Take Akubra quality into the equation I still feel like I'm getting a deal, considering how much they outshine hatco offerings.

 

[T Jones]

Wrangler outpost has a few sizes of Squatters left in their stock, only in Moonstone though. They sell Akubras at a decent price but unfortunately the Squatters will be gone by the time I save a little more $$$ to buy one. There's always the Bushman I guess.

http://www.wrangleroutpost.com/akubra_hatindex.html

 

[Orangegrad]

Wrangler outpost has a few sizes of Squatters left in their stock, only in Moonstone though. They sell Akubras at a decent price but unfortunately the Squatters will be gone by the time I save a little more $$$ to buy one. There's always the Bushman I guess.

http://www.wrangleroutpost.com/akubra_hatindex.html

Though I could be mistaken, I believe that the Squatter sold by the Hattery (where I purchase most of my Akubras) is not the same as the Squatter imported by David Morgan and sold by other U.S. vendors. Along with the ubiquitous chin strap hooks that DM has on nearly all their models, I believe the brim is quite different on the U.S. version, and even the crown may not be the same. Basically, I think we're talking about two completely different fedoras. Again, I'll qualify - I could be mistaken.

 

[T Jones]

Though I could be mistaken, I believe that the Squatter sold by the Hattery (where I purchase most of my Akubras) is not the same as the Squatter imported by David Morgan and sold by other U.S. vendors. Along with the ubiquitous chin strap hooks that DM has on nearly all their models, I believe the brim is quite different on the U.S. version, and even the crown may not be the same. Basically, I think we're talking about two completely different fedoras. Again, I'll qualify - I could be mistaken.

I believe you may be right. There looks to be some differences but I'm not sure how different. Aside from the chinstrap holes I like the styling of the Squatter sold here in America so I hope the differences aren't that noticeable. I checked out another site for the Squatter and it seems Australian Hat Outlet in Northern California may have the "Aussie" style Squatter that you ordered, unless it may just be an older version...Since Akubra doesn't have 7 1/8 LO I have to settle for a 7 1/4, which Australian Hat Outlet lists as a 7 2/8....Really?

http://australianhatoutlet.com/ahocart/index.cgi?code=3&page=2&cat=2

 

[Orangegrad]

I believe you may be right. There looks to be some differences but I'm not sure how different. Aside from the chinstrap holes I like the styling of the Squatter sold here in America so I hope the differences aren't that noticeable. I checked out another site for the Squatter and it seems Australian Hat Outlet in Northern California may have the "Aussie" style Squatter that you ordered, unless it may just be an older version...Since Akubra doesn't have 7 1/8 LO I have to settle for a 7 1/4, which Australian Hat Outlet lists as a 7 2/8....Really?

http://australianhatoutlet.com/ahocart/index.cgi?code=3&page=2&cat=2

Looking at all their other Akubras it appears that they carry the David Morgan imported Akubras. If I'm not mistaken, DM is the only licensed U.S. importer of Akubras, and if you want to sell Akubras in the U.S., you get them from DM. So I'm thinking you'll get a DM Squatter. Now that might be a good thing - but I don't think you'll be getting the Australian market Squatter.

You can always order from the Hattery in Katoomba. The cost of the fedora is around the same, though shipping will add a bit to it. My order last night, including shipping, is $160 from Katoomba to Cleveland.

The original Australia market Squatter, like the Australia market Snowy River and Cattleman, originally came without a liner. They still had one of the original non-lined versions in my size, so that's what I ordered last night from the Hattery.

 

[Orangegrad]

New Squatter from the Hattery in Katoomba

I've wanted a Squatter for a while - but not the David Morgan version. The original Squatter came with the designation "Featherweight" and was unlined. But I knew these were fairly scarce now, and I'd most likely end up with the newer, lined version. No matter - the Australia Market Squatter is one of the earliest of all Akubras, and I'd take what I could get.

I emailed Trudi at the Hattery in Katoomba to see if she had one in my size. She had two: the current model with liner, and an older un-lined Featherweight. I ordered the Featherweight, and it arrived this morning. A bit of steam and it now has a center crease. I'll take some headshots tomorrow.

 

[T Jones]

I've wanted a Squatter for a while - but not the David Morgan version. The original Squatter came with the designation "Featherweight" and was unlined. But I knew these were fairly scarce now, and I'd most likely end up with the newer, lined version. No matter - the Australia Market Squatter is one of the earliest of all Akubras, and I'd take what I could get.

I emailed Trudi at the Hattery in Katoomba to see if she had one in my size. She had two: the current model with liner, and an older un-lined Featherweight. I ordered the Featherweight, and it arrived this morning. A bit of steam and it now has a center crease. I'll take some headshots tomorrow.

View attachment 3318 View attachment 3319 View attachment 3320 View attachment 3321 View attachment 3322 View attachment 3323

I like that. Nice! You had to use a little steam to bash yours? Mine dry bashed real easy without steam. Did you notice if it were much different from mine as far as the styling goes? The brim width on mine is 3 inches and the open crown height is 5 1/4 inches. Is the Aussie Squatter pretty much the same? I have a link to pictures of my Squatter in my signature...Squatters seem to be getting scarce now, at least in this country...and I can't find another Black one on any of the sites that sells them....I'm trying to trade mine off. I wish it weren't Black. I'd definitely keep it if weren't. I'd trade mine for another Squatter in a different color. Looking forward to your headshots.

 

[Orangegrad]

I like that. Nice! You had to use a little steam to bash yours? Mine dry bashed real easy without steam. Did you notice if it were much different from mine as far as the styling goes? The brim width on mine is 3 inches and the open crown height is 5 1/4 inches. Is the Aussie Squatter pretty much the same? I have a link to pictures of my Squatter in my signature...Squatters seem to be getting scarce now, at least in this country...and I can't find another Black one on any of the sites that sells them....I'm trying to trade mine off. I wish it weren't Black. I'd definitely keep it if weren't. I'd trade mine for another Squatter in a different color. Looking forward to your headshots.

I like to steam in the bash - that way it holds better. Just a touch of steam softens the hat, then it gets nice and stiff again. But it's not as dramatic as soaking the felt. Also, I like to steam the brim when shaping - again to soften it to where I can get the brim exactly as I want it. Once the rain hits it, the bash will pretty much be there.

This felt is extremely lightweight - by Akubra standards. But I think it will still take a beating.

The crown is about the same height as yours, but the brim is just shy of 3 inches front and back and just over 2.5 inches on the sides. Also, there's absolutely no taper to this crown. If my information is correct, the only thing that's really the same between the US version and the Australia versions is the name - and that they're made on different blocks.

Anyway, this is an extremely comfortable hat. Will get a lot of headtime this summer.

 

[T Jones]

I like to steam in the bash - that way it holds better. Just a touch of steam softens the hat, then it gets nice and stiff again. But it's not as dramatic as soaking the felt. Also, I like to steam the brim when shaping - again to soften it to where I can get the brim exactly as I want it. Once the rain hits it, the bash will pretty much be there.

This felt is extremely lightweight - by Akubra standards. But I think it will still take a beating.

The crown is about the same height as yours, but the brim is just shy of 3 inches front and back and just over 2.5 inches on the sides. Also, there's absolutely no taper to this crown. If my information is correct, the only thing that's really the same between the US version and the Australia versions is the name - and that they're made on different blocks.

Anyway, this is an extremely comfortable hat. Will get a lot of headtime this summer.

Interesting. Yours is a dimensional brim then. Mine is three inches all the way around. I really like the way mine is styled. It has a 1940's look to it. I just don't like the Black color. But yours sounds really interesting too. I think I'd like to have an Aussie version like yours. They're not discontinuing the Squatter in OZ too are they? Can't wait to see the head shots of your Squatter.

 

[Orangegrad]

Interesting. Yours is a dimensional brim then. Mine is three inches all the way around. I really like the way mine is styled. It has a 1940's look to it. I just don't like the Black color. But yours sounds really interesting too. I think I'd like to have an Aussie version like yours. They're not discontinuing the Squatter in OZ too are they? Can't wait to see the head shots of your Squatter.

I don't think they are discontinuing the OZ market Squatter. And The Hattery in Katoomba will certainly have one if you want one. I always work with Trudi, who does most of their Internet sales.

Though you'll certainly get one with a dimensional brim, you may get one of the modern models - and I'm not sure if the current model has the lightweight felt. I do know that it has a liner. If you want an older model without the liner, mention it to Trudi and she can look for you. Though I haven't worn it outside yet, it appears to be an excellent summertime fedora. As lightweight as my Borsas, but a whole lot tougher.

 

[hatflick1]

http://hatsdirect.com/cgi-bin/products.cgi?view=14&returncat=Akubra+Hats&returnpage=1

 

[Orangegrad]

That's where I got mine. Trudi is great to work with.